I'm a pretty huge fan of bullet hell shmups and I found wave three quite challenging due to the letter mechanics, so don't worry, you're not alone there.
Very well done! I got the Star Waspir cherry a few days ago, and that wave 3 is utterly ridiculous. My strategy was to use the yellow wasp and to spam EEE as much as I could, to kill the red enemies as efficiently as possible to reduce how much they were overwhelming me with bullets. By the way, in shoot-'em-up nomenclature, the "drone buddies" are generally called 'options'. It's an unusual-sounding term, but it comes from old Japanese arcade games, so y'know. For your next cherry guide, I would absolutely love to see Cyber Owls. I'm having trouble with this one as it's a relatively long game that demands a no-death run.
Thanks for the info! Always interesting to learn the genre specific vocab especially since I'm not versed in this type of game. Next game I'll cover is a long one (not gonna spoil exactly which one) but cyber owls is on the list and I'll get to it as soon as I can. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@OneHandDan Mostly the missile boss in the sky with Huxley. I literally have no idea how to avoid death there. This is the biggest roadblock for me cherrying this game at the moment. I also struggle in general with Octavio's stages because it feels too easy to take stray hits, you don't get a heal before the bosses, and his bosses have way too many HP imo (though I know this is mostly just a skill issue). I know about the hidden dim sum in the breakable wall before the elevator in the Chicago stage, though I don't know if there are any hidden heals in his Antarctica level. I also need to practice Guin's final boss in Antarctica too because I don't actually know how to consistently make it vulnerable, especially before Octavio arrives in the room. There just isn't much opportunity to practice a single fight with unique rules that's at the very end of the game like this.
@@EarthboundBenjy -To avoid the missile boss's projectiles, I would stay close to the left corner of the screen and then move right as the last projectile fired vertically. -Octavio is rough, especially his last boss. I tend to use the charge attack (especially on the last stage on the snowmobiles) or low sweeps on enemies. For the last boss I stand under a platform to avoid the explosions and wait for him to charge to the center of the stage, hit him a few times, and repeat. -For Guin's last boss, after he jumps, run to the other corner and he might lose you. He'll wander and you can sleeping dart him in the back. Shoot him with a gun 9 (I think 9) times (more darts/bullets will spawn in his jumps) and then Octavio comes to save the day
As a bullet hell virgin, this game is incredibly daunting. I can barely make a run last longer than 10 seconds before losing both my lives and even watching this the screen is so busy with movement I can't even comprehend what is happening. Might be the only UFO 50 game to completely filter me, skillwise. Props to anyone who gives this a go, I'm sure this game is fun as hell when you're good at it lol
I went in with a similar lack of experience in bullet hells, and this game totally ruined me. Definitely felt like I was getting nowhere for a while. As with most things persistence is key. I know I personally invested a lot of time in this one, I think it's my most played except for the rpgs.
I was absolutely in the "completely discouraged and about ready to give up on the game entirely" boat, but something kept pulling me back in to throw in another 20-30 minutes of attempts every now and then. It took me 8 hours to get this, and I'm speaking as someone who actually semi-frequently enjoys playing SHMUPS. I'm not amazing at them, but I wouldn't say I'm terrible at them, either. The encouragement in your video is so true - the real struggle in this game is wave 3. If you can just manage to push past that, the rest is so much nicer.
I got all 50 Cherries awhile ago and this might've actually be the hardest one for me, even as someone that's very experienced in schmups LOL. I feel like a big part of why stage 3 is so chaotic is that the meteors really blend in with the background, plus nearly every enemy on that stage being bright red/green really makes you get a bit of tunnel vision.
That makes me feel slightly more optimistic about the rest of the games, this one was a journey for sure. I definitely had way too many deaths to the meteors just because I didn't see them like you say.
I'm familiar with bullet hells, but more so twin stick shooters than schmups. This is my most played game right now at 10 hours. Wave 3 is borderline poor design (might be intentional to mimic coin guzzlers of the 80s, even though this is meant to be a home system). Keep at it, as OP says, persistence is key. Once you get a few runs past wave 3, you should finish it up easy.
Worth noting that on wave 4 you can actually break the wall in individual grey sections if you just commit to focusing your fire on it, you don't have to go for the weak point every time. Helpful if you want to pick up letters that are falling far away from the weak point
Good info! Yeah I thought it would be a bit difficult to pick up the letters in this section but that makes a lot of sense. Not something I ever tried since most attempts didn't make it that far!
I really think the red ship is easier to win with for most people. - Bombs are incredible for wave 3 bosses. Just throw them out as the bosses spawn, then replenish them during the lines of enemies. - A multi over 25 is unnecessary if you survive most of wave 3. Therefore you can focus on collecting EEE in wave 2. - The spread shot is worse than yellow, but GEE's ufo is actually really strong and makes up for it. It takes out enemies quickly and also soaks enemy shots. I trigger it as able in wave 3 and it really helps keep up with the red spawns. If it comes in on the correct side, it will solo a boss. - Red's options are very strong because you don't have to aim, just focus on dodging and as long as they're alive they'll clean up enemies
I love shmups. I've heard Star Waspir is rather punishing in both scoring and survival, but given a full clear is less than 15 minutes, I think that's fine. I'm only slightly concerned about the RNG of those asteroids, but I otherwise think I'll have a lot of fun with this one. There's another shmup with a really cool gimmick in UFO 50, iirc. I look forward to when you do that too. Oh, you're scared of moths? Heheh. I used to be scared of spiders, but I eventually overcame it by studying them, as well as, I suppose it would be exposure therapy. I was in my early teens at the time, mind you. Moths are mostly really beautiful and sometimes very cute. I don't think it would take too much to start appreciating them. Anyway, you do you. I just feel strongly about both phobias and moths.
Yeah as an introduction to shmups Star Waspir was definitely a challenge. I'd say the asteroids were definitely the most frustrating part but often the random parts always are. Good luck when you do start going for it! And yeah when I was a kid I had a bad experience with a moth. I'm often the one in my house to deal with any unwanted crawlies, and I'll always try to save them, unless they're moths. I let someone else deal with them. For better or worse moths aren't the most common thing so I haven't really had to face my fear much, still is probably a good idea to face it if I can ever build up the courage.
@@BubbleCerberus Thanks. I think randomness can be great, to test your on the fly thinking and reflexes, but it can easily be frustrating if not carefully controlled. I'll see how the space rocks pan out. You know what else helped me get over some fears of animals? Monster girl designs. Hahaha! That's part of the reason I love moths - the association with some very charming, beautiful and generally likeable characters.
I'm a pretty huge fan of bullet hell shmups and I found wave three quite challenging due to the letter mechanics, so don't worry, you're not alone there.
This game is sweaty as hell
Very well done! I got the Star Waspir cherry a few days ago, and that wave 3 is utterly ridiculous. My strategy was to use the yellow wasp and to spam EEE as much as I could, to kill the red enemies as efficiently as possible to reduce how much they were overwhelming me with bullets.
By the way, in shoot-'em-up nomenclature, the "drone buddies" are generally called 'options'. It's an unusual-sounding term, but it comes from old Japanese arcade games, so y'know.
For your next cherry guide, I would absolutely love to see Cyber Owls. I'm having trouble with this one as it's a relatively long game that demands a no-death run.
Thanks for the info! Always interesting to learn the genre specific vocab especially since I'm not versed in this type of game.
Next game I'll cover is a long one (not gonna spoil exactly which one) but cyber owls is on the list and I'll get to it as soon as I can. Thanks for the suggestion!
Which parts are giving you trouble? I just managed it the other day so it's still fresh
@@OneHandDan
Mostly the missile boss in the sky with Huxley. I literally have no idea how to avoid death there. This is the biggest roadblock for me cherrying this game at the moment.
I also struggle in general with Octavio's stages because it feels too easy to take stray hits, you don't get a heal before the bosses, and his bosses have way too many HP imo (though I know this is mostly just a skill issue). I know about the hidden dim sum in the breakable wall before the elevator in the Chicago stage, though I don't know if there are any hidden heals in his Antarctica level.
I also need to practice Guin's final boss in Antarctica too because I don't actually know how to consistently make it vulnerable, especially before Octavio arrives in the room. There just isn't much opportunity to practice a single fight with unique rules that's at the very end of the game like this.
@@EarthboundBenjy
-To avoid the missile boss's projectiles, I would stay close to the left corner of the screen and then move right as the last projectile fired vertically.
-Octavio is rough, especially his last boss. I tend to use the charge attack (especially on the last stage on the snowmobiles) or low sweeps on enemies. For the last boss I stand under a platform to avoid the explosions and wait for him to charge to the center of the stage, hit him a few times, and repeat.
-For Guin's last boss, after he jumps, run to the other corner and he might lose you. He'll wander and you can sleeping dart him in the back. Shoot him with a gun 9 (I think 9) times (more darts/bullets will spawn in his jumps) and then Octavio comes to save the day
@@OneHandDan
Thanks for the tips, I'll try again soon.
As a bullet hell virgin, this game is incredibly daunting. I can barely make a run last longer than 10 seconds before losing both my lives and even watching this the screen is so busy with movement I can't even comprehend what is happening. Might be the only UFO 50 game to completely filter me, skillwise. Props to anyone who gives this a go, I'm sure this game is fun as hell when you're good at it lol
I went in with a similar lack of experience in bullet hells, and this game totally ruined me. Definitely felt like I was getting nowhere for a while. As with most things persistence is key. I know I personally invested a lot of time in this one, I think it's my most played except for the rpgs.
I was absolutely in the "completely discouraged and about ready to give up on the game entirely" boat, but something kept pulling me back in to throw in another 20-30 minutes of attempts every now and then. It took me 8 hours to get this, and I'm speaking as someone who actually semi-frequently enjoys playing SHMUPS. I'm not amazing at them, but I wouldn't say I'm terrible at them, either. The encouragement in your video is so true - the real struggle in this game is wave 3. If you can just manage to push past that, the rest is so much nicer.
Yeah as someone new to the genre this was really discouraging, but I'm glad I persisted with it. Wave 3 is going to traumatise me for a while I think.
I've watched this one like 5 times and I still don't have the heart to go full in on this and start my runs.
It is definitely an experience... Best of luck when you start your attempts!
The red ships drones shoot homing missiles.
I got all 50 Cherries awhile ago and this might've actually be the hardest one for me, even as someone that's very experienced in schmups LOL. I feel like a big part of why stage 3 is so chaotic is that the meteors really blend in with the background, plus nearly every enemy on that stage being bright red/green really makes you get a bit of tunnel vision.
That makes me feel slightly more optimistic about the rest of the games, this one was a journey for sure. I definitely had way too many deaths to the meteors just because I didn't see them like you say.
"Got all 50 cherries"
Unemployed or just autistic?
I'm familiar with bullet hells, but more so twin stick shooters than schmups. This is my most played game right now at 10 hours. Wave 3 is borderline poor design (might be intentional to mimic coin guzzlers of the 80s, even though this is meant to be a home system). Keep at it, as OP says, persistence is key. Once you get a few runs past wave 3, you should finish it up easy.
Worth noting that on wave 4 you can actually break the wall in individual grey sections if you just commit to focusing your fire on it, you don't have to go for the weak point every time. Helpful if you want to pick up letters that are falling far away from the weak point
Good info! Yeah I thought it would be a bit difficult to pick up the letters in this section but that makes a lot of sense. Not something I ever tried since most attempts didn't make it that far!
You're right about the last two stages being much easier than the 3rd. I've only played stage 4 three times myself
I really think the red ship is easier to win with for most people.
- Bombs are incredible for wave 3 bosses. Just throw them out as the bosses spawn, then replenish them during the lines of enemies.
- A multi over 25 is unnecessary if you survive most of wave 3. Therefore you can focus on collecting EEE in wave 2.
- The spread shot is worse than yellow, but GEE's ufo is actually really strong and makes up for it. It takes out enemies quickly and also soaks enemy shots. I trigger it as able in wave 3 and it really helps keep up with the red spawns. If it comes in on the correct side, it will solo a boss.
- Red's options are very strong because you don't have to aim, just focus on dodging and as long as they're alive they'll clean up enemies
I love shmups. I've heard Star Waspir is rather punishing in both scoring and survival, but given a full clear is less than 15 minutes, I think that's fine. I'm only slightly concerned about the RNG of those asteroids, but I otherwise think I'll have a lot of fun with this one. There's another shmup with a really cool gimmick in UFO 50, iirc. I look forward to when you do that too.
Oh, you're scared of moths? Heheh. I used to be scared of spiders, but I eventually overcame it by studying them, as well as, I suppose it would be exposure therapy. I was in my early teens at the time, mind you. Moths are mostly really beautiful and sometimes very cute. I don't think it would take too much to start appreciating them. Anyway, you do you. I just feel strongly about both phobias and moths.
Yeah as an introduction to shmups Star Waspir was definitely a challenge. I'd say the asteroids were definitely the most frustrating part but often the random parts always are. Good luck when you do start going for it!
And yeah when I was a kid I had a bad experience with a moth. I'm often the one in my house to deal with any unwanted crawlies, and I'll always try to save them, unless they're moths. I let someone else deal with them. For better or worse moths aren't the most common thing so I haven't really had to face my fear much, still is probably a good idea to face it if I can ever build up the courage.
@@BubbleCerberus Thanks. I think randomness can be great, to test your on the fly thinking and reflexes, but it can easily be frustrating if not carefully controlled. I'll see how the space rocks pan out.
You know what else helped me get over some fears of animals? Monster girl designs. Hahaha! That's part of the reason I love moths - the association with some very charming, beautiful and generally likeable characters.
great guide, didn't watch past wave 3 for spoilers but wow wave 3 is stupid hard (that's from someone with 25 cherries and 30ish golds.)
46 cherries, Star Waspir is probably the game that feels the hardest.
Makes it look so easy yet i cant even get a 10x multiplier yet :,(
This is a tricky one for sure, keep at it and I'm sure you'll get there!